Celebration honors 911 call-takers and emergency dispatch personnel

On Friday, April 7, 2017, the Kansas City Regional 9-1-1 System celebrated 9-1-1 call-takers and emergency dispatch personnel who work behind the scenes answering life-saving calls from citizens.

The Mid-America Regional Council hosts the event each year during National Public Safety Telecommunicators’ Week — a time to honor dispatchers, radio and emergency phone technicians, communications staff trainers and supervisors for their dedication to public safety.

Over 400 public safety personnel from across the region attended this year’s celebration.

Outstanding Performance Awards were presented to the following individuals:

Nearly 600 dispatchers at 42 public safety call centers, also known as public safety answering points, answer a total of 4.1 million 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls each year in Greater Kansas City. These highly trained professionals work long hours behind the scenes, under pressure helping people through extremely difficult and potentially life-changing circumstances. In addition to assisting the public, they dispatch appropriate emergency response teams to the scene, provide first responders with vital background information and conduct follow-up checks on officers in the field.

The regional 9-1-1 system includes Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties in Missouri and Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. Each 9-1-1 answering center is operated by a local government. All 9-1-1 calls are handled by professionals who undergo extensive training in public safety communications. The Mid-America Regional Council provides administrative and coordination services for the regional 9-1-1 system.